Tim Banks is the CEO of APM, a Canada wide construction and property development company, with its head office in Charlottetown, PEI. My family has lived on PEI for over eight generations and I was born at the Prince County Hospital in Summerside, PEI. I am hoping someone will soon develop a blood test to authenticate when you actually become an "Islander" as I am still having problems explaining where I'm from?

Monday, June 9, 2008

Pretty small minded thinking there Clifford...there must be someone out there who wants the City for something other than your money, maybe for the skillful way the City handles its public relations?'I don't think the city of Charlottetown is wanted at the federation.' Charlottetown Mayor Clifford LeeCharlottetown reps a no-show, municipalities federation saysMonday, June 9, 2008CBC NewsThe Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities says Charlottetown's complaints that it hasn't had much of a voice in the umbrella group could be because city reps haven't been attending many meetings lately.Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee has said his city will cut all ties with the federation at the end of this month, mostly because the provincial body has historically done a poor job of representing the provincial capital's interests."The city of Charlottetown has had a voice for years with the federation and the voice has never been heard," Lee said."And the truth of the matter is I don't think the city of Charlottetown is wanted at the federation. What's really wanted is the $40,000 that the city gave them [in fees], year after year."However, the president of the federation said it's pretty hard to fight for the capital city if its representatives don't show up for meetings.Bruce MacDougall told CBC News that the city's official rep, Coun. Cecil Villard, has been to just one of eight federation meetings held in the last year — and neither he nor Lee has been to any meetings in the last six months.MacDougall said Lee should look at his city's attendance record before publicly condemning the job the federation has done."I feel bad that that statement was made because you know, really, you have to be at the meetings in order to put your input for your community there, right?"It's to their benefit that they be there at the table."Villard couldn't be reached for comment on his attendance record.MacDougall said he's talked to Lee about the city's lack of participation, and he hopes a meeting between the two sides later this month will result in a change of heart.Despite that planned meeting, Lee insists that Charlottetown council's May 12 decision to walk away is final.